Although the actual blogging part of my quest to grow
#cassieskitchen to something more tangible, has kind of slowed down, the want
and love of cooking and sharing my culinary prowl-essence (also known as
vanity) has still been active and growing stronger everyday. I have been sourcing my produce from local suppliers and travelling around London to find the best yummy goodies I can to aid in creating a new flavour.
I have been very active on my "Sunday roast" attempts over
the past 6 months with my first successful pork roast with crackling! (1/5 aren’t too bad of odds)
In not such a giant fail but close too, I did learn during my first
"crackling" experience that even though I think whole meal self
raising flour should be a fine substitute for plain white flour when attempting
to make Yorkshire puddings, it isn't. So don't try it unless you enjoy eating
play-dough.
Although the "pud" as it is referred to in the UK was pitiable,
I did hit the jackpot with the side. Sliced organic rainbow carrots,
zucchini, red onion and potatoes arrange very so elegantly in a ceramic dish
with a creamy Stilton sauce. YUMMMMY
Previously my roasts have varied attempts on fail. One week I forgot
to put foil over the top and it was like trying to eat some very tough rubber.
Another week I attempted a duck; to my disappointment he was still very very
undercooked. I once even thought I very clever cooking the meat above a cooling
tray of onions that would aid in creating a nice gravy flavor. Yet again RAW
even though it had been cooking for a good 2 and half hours, I ended up slicing
it up and cooking it in smaller pieces because I was hungry.
To try something a little different and I needed an ego boost after
serving still oinking meat the week earlier. I plated up a pescatarian “
cooked” dinner of Chili crab for a Sunday roast. Now this recipe is delicious I have already cooked it once before click here to find out what went in the pot.
So it's Saturday again I'm thinking yep, Sunday roast tomorrow.
Stuart & I head down to Brockley market to source some local produce in the
town down the road.
We pick up a giant bag of kale, (it's a super food didn't you hear)
some more rainbow carrots, big beetroots and some garlic leaves (delicious) and
edible flowers. Yes you see correctly, edible flowers, I tell you what that may
not be so flavorsome as garlic leaves, but they look pretty once served. Check out the Chicken stuffed with Chroizo, and served with purple broccoli above.;)
So we have the veg in our recycled hessian bag, looking like the
rest of the foodie locals and now it's time to hunt down some meat. We spot a
delicious rack of lamb that just looks like it will be as delicious and we
think. We have this very bad tendency called we see, we buy, we ask how much
later.
I tell you what! If I had known the price before hand, we would have
missed out on one of the best pieces of lamb I have eaten in my life. The meat
had aged well and has this “glow” that said eat me or eat meat… The meat was soft and tender and well worth the ££ I give it 6/5
chops!
So, more recently ( in the last 24 hours) I have had an attempt at
juicy and delicious piece of Briskett, the way my mum does. Cooked in the oven on medium hit with fresh garlic, rosemary and olive oil.
The trick is letting the meat to air and get to room temperature before eating.
I learnt that from my vegetarian friend Helen!
So although this blog isn’t my life story this time or a online journal, It is more about
what I am actually doing in the kitchen. My foodie idea is to have guests who
come and enjoy my food and contribute to the #cassieskitchen experience.
If you are interested in coming on a sourcing of produce adventure or would like to know more about coming for dinner contact me via
twitter or facebook( I promised I would have a Facebook page in my last blog).
I shall leave you with the below quote
Later kids
Cass x
